St. Catherine’s Catholic School
St. Catherine’s Catholic School
St. Catherine’s Catholic School
A Look at Four Local Schools
Getting a Christian
Based Education
Selecting the best school for your child is never an easy task,
especially considering all the choices available in Gilroy and
Morgan Hill. Decisions are informed by a range of factors from
perceived academic value to a safe campus environment, and
sometimes, to an educational experience that includes religion.
For some parents, Christian schools provide a meaningful
alternative to public schools.
TODAY visited four of
our area’s Christian schools to share highlights of their
education offerings with South County families.
gmh
Written By Kimberly Ewertz
The parish of St. Catherine of Alexandria founded its namesake
school in 1963. The school started out small, with First Grade
and Second Grade students. The parish invited the Sisters
of the Presentation to come and teach their young students.
Enrollment grew, classes were added, and the school fl ourished.
Today it serves over 300 students from Kindergarten through
Eighth Grade.
St. Catherine’s Principal, Fabienne Esparza, said each
classroom is staffed with a full-time credentialed teacher
and a full-time aid to provide quality and consistency, and
“excellent support” for the students.
The school is equipped with a STEM lab, providing
students access to hands-on learning experiences in science,
technology, engineering, and math that are increasingly
relevant in the digital age.
Drama director Kris Heiser leads the school’s drama
program, which Esparza said gives students “a good sense
of self-confidence” and the ability to present themselves
effectively in public.
Esparza is also proud of the school’s garden, which she
initiated in 2006, a year after becoming the school’s principal.
She said the students not only learn from their hands-on work
in the garden but they also reap the fruits of their labor. For
example, the second graders made fresh salsa from tomatoes,
Pacifi c Point Christian School
90
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
Pacifi c Point Christian School
JULY/AUGUST 2017
gmhtoday.com